Is it better to turn my computer off when I am not using it?
November 7, 2007
Computer plays an important role in our everyday life. Computer works electrically and you have the responsibility to take care of it. Here is one question that most of us have, “Is it better to turn off our system, when it is not in use?”
For this, no one can give the right answer, because it depends upon one’s usage.
Three situations may be applicable to leave your computer on even for a whole day.
• When your computer is connected through a network, some alterations have to be done by your network administrators, they may take back ups of the files up or upgraded some software or anything similar then you need to leave the system on for the full day.
• If your system is the main server in your organization and if others can work on the Internet and doing works through this server, then you want to leave the computer on the whole day. If your system acts as a file server, print server, web server then you must leave it on all the time.
Apart from this you may turn off the machine.
One main reason to shut down our computer is power consumption. A typical computer needs about 300 watts for functioning. Imagine if you leave the system whole day, and then calculate the power and cost. Switching off your system when not in use saves money and power.
Nowadays some advanced systems are in the market with energy-saving technology, which proves to be cost effective as well.
For some circumstances the mode of On and Off may cause stress to the computer components. If your system is On, the CPU gets hot, and then you shut down your system to get it cool. The expansion and contraction from the heat causes some disorders to your computer.
Depending upon factors such as convenience, power consumption, thermal stress and risk of power interruption, you should decide to leave the system on or not.
One thing you must remember is that regardless of your system being turned off or on, you must turn off the monitor at night for longevity.
Alphabetical Glossary of the Computer
November 4, 2007
A computer is a data programming device, which is now modified into desktop or portable unit. We do almost all work with the active support of the computerized technology. Let’s have a note over the glossary of the computer. Glossary means an alphabetical explanation of every unit in the computer programming.
• Bandwidth is a unit to send amount of data through a connection before the carrier becomes full. It’s measured in bits per second.
• Baud is technically measured as number of events or signal changes per second.
• Basic Input Output System is usually known as Bios.
• Buffer is a temporary storing feature, which works at different speed to communicate effectively.
• Bug is an error in the program.
• All systems are provided with a parallel group of wires. Bus network, is described by a main spur with computers connected at various points.
• Common Gateway Interface software is a communication between a web server and program operating outside the server.
• To identify your computer or your performance to a remote computer Cookie is used.
• The domain name usually defines the name of an organization, and its geographical position and the type of site.
• File Transfer Protocol allows the users to transfer files to and from other computers.
• Hypertext Mark-Up Language is used to create and layout documents for the World Wide Web.
• Internet Protocol is represented in decimal notation.
• Integrated Service Digital Network acts as a telephone connecting device.
• Joint Photographic Experts Group is a video format.
• Modem is used to connect computer to the internet over telephone.
• Point to Point Protocol is a configuration used to connect two computers with phone line or network.
• Search engine is used to locate files on the web.
• Server administers the files and network.
• Serial Line Interface Protocol is an internet connector.
• Uniform Resource Locator addresses the specific electronic location.
• Virtual Reality Modelling language is a set of codes for writing the files.
• Window Icon Menu Pointer is an easy interface for the window operating system.
RAM to Accelerate Computer Speed
November 1, 2007
RAM, random access memory is the main memory unit found in all the computers and the capacity of the RAM differs according to the system. A normal 256 MB RAM will be enough for most of the operations in a computer. The main reason why RAM is installed is to attain speed in processing the browsers and the programs of a computer. When lots of programs used are made to run in a computer then the speed of the computer will be low so that this will even lead your computer to droop in between the process. This will lead you in losing all the data.
Capacities
RAM is like an integrated chip that can be inserted in the provision in the central processing unit of the computer. This comes in different capacities as it comes in 256 MB, 512 MB, 1 GB, 2 GB and even 4 GB of RAM are nowadays available in the computer market of the UK . The fact behind the working of a RAM is that it is concerned about the virtual memory of it. If the virtual memory in a computer is low, then the programs the computer deals will also be slow and will droop in the process. The virtual memory plays an important role in offering good speed to the computer.
Upgrading the RAM will surely increase the memory as well as the speed, but the fact is when you deal with certain small programs such as the word processors and some more, upgrading the RAM is of no use, because you will not feel any type of increase in speed as the programs have certain limit in capacity. There are software such as the Adobe Photoshop, Premiere and the other graphic related software, which reveals the speed of an upgraded RAM. If enough capacity of RAM is been installed once then the computer will work some 10 – 50 times faster than the old.
The process of deleting files
October 29, 2007
Windows was the first to introduce recycle bin. The main use of this particular bin is that the deleted files and the documents will be stored in the recycle bin. This was first introduced in the version of Windows 95 OS. When an important file is deleted unknowingly then it can be restored from the recycle bin. It can be restored by double clicking the recycle bin tab and the wanted files can be restored by the options given in the screen displayed. If the file is taken out from the recycle bin then the file can be used as a normal file.
In some cases like floppy disks and some USB drives the deleted files will not be stored in the recycle bin. Sometimes you may delete an important file you wanted from the recycle bin.
Unknown Destination
While emptying the recycle bin where does the file go? It is not a mysterious thing. It is a false impression that the data is really erased from the hard drive when you erase a file. When a file is deleted on a hard drive, it is not erased. Instead, bits of information that point to the location of the file on the hard drive will be erased. This pointer, along with other pointers for each folder and file on the hard drive, is saved in a segment close to the source of the hard drive and is used by the operating system to compile the directory tree structure. By expunging the pointer file, the real file becomes imperceptible to the operating system. Ultimately, the hard drive will write new data over the area where the old file is located.
Internet has got lots of options to restore the deleted files. All the options will be easier to perform. The basic concept of deleting files in the computers follows replacing the new files with the old. Even when a file is deleted, the whole space will not be retained but some kilo bytes of space will be taken by the deleted file. When a new file is installed in the computer then the old one is erased. This is how the deleting and restoring of files in a computer takes place.
Desktop Computers with its Excellent Components
October 19, 2007
A desktop computer is a personal or officially used device. It is different from portable computers such as laptop and PDAs. Desktop computer also known as microcomputers are of four types such as personal computers, workstations, internet servers and special communication computer.
Computers are now less costly and they are used to perform official tasks, organizing digital photos, video editing and internet access. A computer comes with components that are easy to replace and upgrade. It has come in a range of styles from upright towers to small form factor models.
The hardware in a desktop computer is easy to modify for a person with some intermediate knowledge of computers. The desktop computers have several components and each one has it own functions. Computer has a fan that helps to keep it cool. Motherboard links all of the components together and routes data, hard disk drive is used to store the information and optical disc drive reads most or all types of CDs and DVDs. The processor of the device is considered as the main brain of the computer, CPU cooler cools the processing unit and RAM is used for short-term data storage. It consists of card components such as graphics card, physics card, sound card, speakers to deliver sound and modem for data access through telephone line and network card to be linked to computer network or to communicate with other computers. It also features a power supply unit to provide power to the rest of the computer parts.
Computers have various ports, which allow plugging external devices. USB port is a Universal connector for connecting with any device. Ethernet is used for internet connection. The computer has headphone jack, which is used to connect sound devices. It has serial and parallel components that are used to connect devices that use serial or parallel connectors. PS/2 is used for computer mouse and keyboard. Digital Video Interface (DVI) is used to connect the monitor and keeps in the signal in digital format. Fire Wire of the computer is used to connect external hard drives and camcorders and a card reader to read digital devices.
